Last week The Spectator carried a story on four Nigerians who were jailed by an Accra Circuit Court for human trafficking.

According to the report the perpetrators promised to secure jobs for their victims in Ghana but unknown to them (the victims) upon arrival in Ghana from Nigeria they were compelled to engage in sex trade.

The perpetrators demanded huge sums of money from the victims before they could gain their freedom but the timely intervention of a “Good Samaritan” led to the arrest of the perpetrators who were later jailed in hard labour.

Human trafficking is a menace in society as it is associated with sexual exploitation, servitude, starvation, depression, fear and trauma among others on victims.

Most often unsuspecting victims, especially young girls, are recruited by friends or even relatives who act as agents under the disguise of securing jobs for them within or outside the country but unfortunately, show them the ‘red card’ as they reach their destination. 

Some are issued with threats, forced into domestic servitude and subjected to all forms of abuses to the detriment of their health. 

Recently, some Ghanaian victims of human trafficking shared their harrowing experiences of the inhumane treatment meted to them by their hosts after they were rescued and returned to the country.

In fact, the frequent reports of cases of human trafficking is so disturbing and the earlier it is nipped in the bud the better.

The Spectator, therefore, welcomes the Government’s initiative to launch a four-year National Action Plan which will provide guidelines to deal with the menace. The National Action Plan was launched by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) recently.

In the words of the Caretaker Minister of MoGCSP, Ms. Cecilia Abena Dapaah “despite the many interventions instituted by the government to fight human trafficking, the practice was still prevalent.”   

Ms. Dapaah also explained that the National Action Plan was necessary because although numerous laws have been enacted to curb human trafficking the practice still persisted.

It is obvious that the country cannot get rid of human trafficking with only laws; rather a concerted effort is needed to eliminate it.

Let us be vigilant and give a hint or report any hidden case of human trafficking to the appropriate authorities to bring perpetrators to book.  

We all need to raise awareness and join the fight against human trafficking.